1

EDU 205 LECTURE NOTE

BY

DABOER STEPHEN DAKUP

Who is a teacher?

A teacher has been defined as an expert who is capable of imparting knowledge that will help

learners to build, identify and to acquire skills that will be used to face the challenges in life. The

teacher also provides to the learners’ knowledge, skills and values that enhance development.

Thus, A teacher is a person who provides help for pupils and students.

Teachers play vital roles in the lives of the students in their classrooms. Teachers are best known

for the role of educating the students that are placed in their care. Beyond that, teachers serve

many other roles in the classroom. Teachers set the tone of their classrooms, build a warm

environment, mentor and nurture students, become role models, and listen and look for signs of

trouble.

Teaching knowledge

The most common role a teacher plays in the classroom is to teach knowledge to children.

Teachers are given a curriculum they must follow that meets state guidelines. This curriculum is

followed by the teacher so that throughout the year, all pertinent knowledge is dispensed to the

students. Teachers teach in many ways including lectures, small group activities and hands-on

learning activities.

Creating Classroom Environment

Teachers also play an important role in the classroom when it comes to the environment.

Students often mimic a teacher’s actions. If the teacher prepares a warm, happy environment,

students are more likely to be happy. An environment set by the teacher can be either positive or
 2

negative. If students sense the teacher is angry, students may react negatively to that and

therefore learning can be impaired. Teachers are responsible for the social behavior in their

classrooms. This behavior is primarily a reflection of the teacher’s actions and the environment

she sets.

Role Modeling

Teachers typically do not think of themselves as role models, however, inadvertently they are.

Students spend a great deal of time with their teacher and therefore, the teacher becomes a role

model to them. This can be a positive or negative effect depending on the teacher. Teachers are

there not only to teach the children, but also to love and care for them. Teachers are typically

highly respected by people in the community and therefore become a role model to students and

parents.

Mentoring

Mentoring is a natural role taken on by teachers, whether it is intentional or not. This again can

have positive or negative effects on children. Mentoring is a way a teacher encourages students

to strive to be the best they can. This also includes encouraging students to enjoy learning. Part

of mentoring consists of listening to students. By taking time to listen to what students say,

teachers impart to students a sense of ownership in the classroom. This helps build their

confidence and helps them want to be successful.

Signs Of Trouble

Another role played by teachers is a protector role. Teachers are taught to look for signs of

trouble in the students. When students’ behaviors change or physical signs of abuse are noticed,

teachers are required to look into the problem. Teachers must follow faculty procedures when it

comes to following up on all signs of trouble.

 3

QUALITIES OF A GOOD TEACHER

Subject Mastery

First and foremost, of all the teacher qualities, exceptional educators must possess a deep

understanding of the subject matter they are teaching. Mastery of the content is essential for

effectively conveying information and fostering a rich learning environment. By having a firm

grasp of the subject, teachers can confidently guide students, answer questions, and address

misconceptions that may arise during instruction.

Pedagogical Expertise

Equally important is the ability to translate that knowledge into meaningful and engaging

lessons. Pedagogical content knowledge is crucial for teachers to design effective instructional

strategies that cater to the diverse learning needs of their students. By employing various

teaching techniques and adapting their approach as necessary, teachers can ensure that students

comprehend and retain the material.

Assessment Proficiency

Assessing student progress is also one of the vital qualities of a great teacher. By employing

intentional and ongoing assessment methods, teachers can gather data on students’

understanding, skills, and needs. This information enables them to tailor their teaching to

individual students and make informed instructional decisions. Acknowledging students’ diverse

backgrounds, prior knowledge, and experiences is also essential. Good teachers build upon

students’ existing knowledge, connecting new concepts to familiar ones and facilitating

meaningful learning experiences.

 4

Communication Skills

Beyond these foundational teacher qualities, good educators possess excellent communication

skills. They effectively convey information, actively listen to students, and encourage open

dialogue within the classroom. By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, teachers

create opportunities for students to share their thoughts, ask questions, and engage in

collaborative learning.

Adaptability

Furthermore, good teachers exhibit adaptability and flexibility. They understand that each

student is unique, with varying strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. A good teacher

adjusts their instructional methods and provides differentiated learning experiences to cater to

individual student needs, promoting a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

Passion for Students

Lastly, good teachers demonstrate a genuine passion for education and a commitment to their

students’ success. They go above and beyond to foster a love of learning, inspire curiosity, and

instill confidence in their students. By establishing nurturing relationships with their students,

teachers create an atmosphere of trust and support, enabling students to thrive academically and

personally.

The qualities that define a good educator extend beyond a mere love for children. Teaching

requires a combination of subject mastery, pedagogical expertise, assessment proficiency,

adaptability, excellent communication skills, and a genuine passion for education. By embodying
 5

these characteristics, teachers can create a transformative and enriching learning experience for

their students.

What is teaching?

Teaching is intimate contact between a more mature personality and a less mature one which

designed to further the education of the latter. Teaching as an interactive process, primarily

involving classroom talk which takes place between teacher and pupil and occurs during certain

definable activities. Teaching is a generic term which denotes actions undertaken with the

intention of bringing about learning in another. In simple term, Teaching is a process where

systematic methods are used to transmit knowledge into someone. eaching is the process of

attending to people’s needs, experiences and feelings, and intervening so that they learn

particular things, and go beyond the given.

It involves the sharing of information and ideas to facilitate learning and understanding.

The role of a teacher is to create a positive and supportive learning environment, provide

guidance and feedback, and help learners develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

Good teaching is essential for the development of individuals and society as a whole, as it helps

to foster critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.

Characteristics of good teaching

The characteristics of teaching are as follows :

1. Teaching is an effective interaction between teacher and students.

2. Teaching is both arts as well as science. Teaching is an art as it calls for the exercise of

talent and creativity. Teaching as science involves a repertoire of techniques, procedures

 6

and skills, that can be systematically studied, described and improved. A good teacher is

one who adds creativity and inspiration to the basic repertoire.

3. Teaching has various forms, like formal and informal raining, conditioning or

indoctrination, etc.

4. Teaching is dominated by the skill of communication.

5. Teaching is a tripolar process; the three poles are, educational objectives, learning

experiences and change in behaviour.

6. Teaching should be well planned, and the teacher should decide the objectives, methods

of teaching and evaluation techniques.

7. Teaching is suggesting and not dictating.

8. Good teaching is democratic, and teacher respects the students, encourages them to ask

questions, answer questions and discuss things.

What is Learning?

On daily basis each one of us learns something or the other intentionally or accidentally. Every

moment you learn something or the other because of the varied experience you have in life. In

the educational process, the central idea is learning. A child learns right from his birth and goes

on learning throughout his lifetime. A new born child is helpless at birth. He depends upon

others. But in due course, he learns a number of things. He learns to crawl, stand, walk, run, eat,

speak, dress etc. The process of learning continues till death. Even an adult during the course of

his daily routine goes on learning and adding to his experience.

From the foregoing, Learning, in education, the process by which a relatively lasting change in

potential behaviour occurs because of practice or experience. Learning is also a process of

 7

acquiring modifications in existing knowledge, skills, habits, or tendencies through experience,

practice, or exercise.

Basically, there are three dimensions of learning:

 Ideation learning which occurs in the cognitive ideation of the intellectual: Cognition

refers to the process of obtaining knowledge about anything through perceiving,

evaluating, generalizing, imagining thinking, creating and problem solving

 Skill Learning which normally takes place within the psychomotor domains of learning.

A skill is a refined pattern of movement and performance based upon demands of

situation.

 Emotional learning which refers to the affective learning. The end products of emotional

learning are positive attitude, values and ideals which determines individual’s character

and motive power.

Factors affecting Learning

 Learners related factors

 Teachers’ related factors

 Learners mental health

 Type of discipline and interaction

Nature And Characteristics of Learning

 •Learning is a Continuous Process
 •Learning is Change in behavior
 •Learning is a universal process
 •Learning is a Process not a product
 •Learning is Purposive and Goal-oriented
 8

 •Learning is a process of progress and Development

 •Learning occurs due to Activity and Environment
 •Learning is transferable
 •Learning is the Fundamental process of Life

Why Learners Learn?

You may have three main motives for learning; to reduce your lack of knowledge, to understand

more about the idea, to explore it as widely as possible to satisfy your curiosity, to increase your

independence or efficiency, to improve how you do things.

Discipline and Classroom Management

We earlier agreed that teachers are responsible for creating learning environment for

students to learn best. This can only be done through effective discipline and classroom

management. Teachers also play an important role in the classroom when it comes to the

environment. Students often mimic a teacher’s actions. If the teacher prepares a warm, happy

environment, students are more likely to be happy. An environment set by the teacher can be

either positive or negative. If students sense the teacher is angry, students may react negatively to

that and therefore learning can be impaired. Teachers are responsible for the social behavior in

their classrooms. This behavior is primarily a reflection of the teacher’s actions and the

environment she sets.

Concept of classroom management

Classroom management refers to preventing disruptive behavior so as to improve

academic performance. Baker (2015) observes that improved teacher training in classroom

management is a critical part in improving academic performance in a particular subject. Factors

contributing to effective classroom management include: teaching methodology, lesson planning

and preparation, interpersonal relationships and student motivation. This implies that classroom

management does not only refer to discipline in the classroom but also include a variety of
 9

activities a teacher is involved towards successful lesson delivery. Malone and Tietjens (2000)

define classroom management as “how teachers maintain order in a classroom”. Little and Akin-

Little (2003) define classroom management as ‘a set of procedures that, if followed, should help

the teacher maintain order in the classroom and involve both antecedent and consequent

procedures that can be combined to provide a comprehensive approach to classroom

management’. Stichter (2009) define classroom management as “those general environmental

and instructional variables that promote consistent classroom-wide procedures of setup,

structure, expectations, and feedback”

There are three main components of classroom management. These components include

making the most of the time allotted for instruction, arranging instruction to promote academic

engagement as well as academic achievement, and using antecedent behavior management

strategies.

Disciplinary Issues in the classroom

To be effective in the prevention of various student discipline issues, it would make sense

for educators to understand these problems. Educators need to understand the extent of the

associated social, emotional, psychological, educational, and physical problems that accompany

student discipline issues. Seriously unacceptable student behavior, according to Olweus (2003),

is evident even in preschool with the problem peaking in middle school. It is important,

therefore, that interventions be implemented as early as possible. The types of inappropriate

student behavior change with development and encompass many social systems. Peers play a

dominate role in both supporting such things as bullying and promoting a society of aggression.

Classroom Discipline is the process of enforcing classroom standards and building

patterns of cooperation in order to minimize disruptions and maximize learning. A.

 10

Preventive Discipline consists of those things a teacher can do to prevent discipline problems

from occurring.